Boiler

[firebird]

Hi

I will be building a freelance stationary engine shortly and will need a boiler to steam run it, possibly later this year. I'm thinking in the size 3 inch x 6 inch. Just a couple of questions for now to get me going. Whats best, vertical or horizontal? Are there any plans/ photos of something straight forward to build.

Cheers

[jamespetts]

I am rather new to all this myself, but I can offer some assistance in the form of the following website:

www.maccsteam.com/

They build model boilers of all kinds at reasonable prices, and are very helpful. There is even some useful and detailed information about calculating the size of boiler needed for any given steam engine.

[Tel]

'bout the best small boiler I've come across for this sort of thing is the steam plant for the 'Monarch' - boiler is 4" diameter and about 6 or 7 inches long, centre flue horizontal with four cross tubes. I've built several of these units and they always deliver.

PM me you email addy for further info.

[ron]

The only thing I can add is the old saying 'size matters', the bigger the boiler [within reason] in relation to what it is powering the easier the outfit is to run. I started out with a small Cotwsold vertical gas fired boiler which taught me a lot of skills trying to run a ST Victoria, I sold it and bought an old ST 504 which I gas fired, this runs the Victoria easily and will even run a No 9 at slow speed.
The old ST 504s with a meths burner can be picked up cheaply on Ebay, they are probably about the cheapest way of getting a reasonable sized boiler other than making one yourself, if you want to DIY Tel has some good designs. The 504 will continuously run an engine up to about 1 1/4" bore [1 1/2" at a push] if this gives you some sort of idea what size of engine you want to build.
Personally I don't think it really matters whether they are horizontal or vertical but I prefer the look ot vertical boilers.
Ron

[circlip]

Have you had a look at the plans section of the "American" site Firebird?? Also, have a look around for "Model Boilers and Boilermaking" by K.N. Harris. Ian.

[firebird]

Hi

thanks for the info guys